Greetings from Sheridan, Wyoming. I am an avid shooter of everything that goes pif, pow, bang, boom, or kerblooie. I have engaged in some light gunsmithing over the years, and assembled a Lyman Great Plains .54 cal a couple decades ago, going for a browned finish, so not much challenge involved (although it turned out handsome and shoots fine). That got me interested in building something that requires a bit more work on my part, and was maybe a little more period correct. You've heard of gateway drugs? Yeah, the GPR was my gateway smokepole. A few years back I managed to find an untouched old Sharon fullstock percussion Hawken kit in .54, less stock. I finally have the wherewithal to get the project going, so I would dearly love to have the input of the collective knowledge of the members here.
This rifle will be hunted, shot in matches, and used hard, so I ordered a straight maple stock from Pecatonica, and have been getting the metal ready for finishing. I want case colors on the parts that were traditionally case hardened, and plan on using the Brownell's Surface Hardening Compound. Anyone have experience with this product, or know if there is a better one? For the barrel and a few other parts, I was planning on using Pilkington Rust Blue. Since it is VERY dry here, I'll need to build a damp box for best results. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions on the best way to build one? (I was thinking about something with PVC pipe to keep it on the cheap...)
Having seen a few original Hawkens in museums out here, I know they usually had very dark stocks, but have heard mixed accounts of the wood finish on originals. Aqua fortis or varnish are the two techniques I have seen put forth most often. I was wanting to go with the AF, since I want this rifle to be attractive, but what is the general consensus here? I am not wedded to making a 100% period correct firearm (or I would be getting my blacksmith friend to make everything from scratch!) but I would nonetheless like something that wouldn't get too many sneers at a rondy.
Last question: the Sharon kit did not come with barrel wedge escutcheons. From the few pictures I have seen of original fullstock Hawkens, I have noticed escutcheons on some of them, on others I have seen pins, and on a couple wedges sans escutheons. Does this seem right, or am I just blind?
Thank you for helping out an old guy who is getting into this a little late in life, but wants to do it right...
